Nocturnal species. Insectivorous, feeding on beetles and ants. Lives in large colonies of around a thousand individuals. Can survive without food or water for several weeks because it can accumulate fat during the autumn so the greater mouse-tailed bat does not need to hibernate and instead remains active throughout the year. The greater mouse-tailed uses echolocation (at a long quasi-constant-frequency calls with one prominent harmonic, end-frequency between 27 to 30 kHz, best-frequency 28 kHz) by emitting ultrasound from nose-leaf to detect prey. Little is known about the reproductive biology of the greater mouse-tailed bat except that the breeding season occurs in March and female gives birth to a single young in June after a gestation period of around 18 weeks. Young reaches sexual maturity after two years.
Greater mouse-tailed bat is a medium-sized bat. Fur on the upperparts of the body soft, dense and varies in color from grayish-brown to dark brown, pale on the underparts. Face, lips, the front part of neck as well as lower ends of the underparts and upperparts hairless, but present at hind margin of ears and connecting membrane. Broad snout with small nose-leaf. Ears large with tragus. Tail longer than the head and body length and shorter than forearm. Flight membrane narrow and tail emerges from it. Only a small dermal ridge on muzzle. Male larger than female.
Narrow (Nile Delta, Luxor).
The greater mouse-tailed bat is a desert species. It roosts in arid caves up to 1300 m above sea level, tunnels and old buildings.
Body length 121–147 mm, forearm 61.1-73.4 mm, 5th digit 61–66 mm, 3rd digit 73–82 mm.
Native, resident.
